The Northern Regional Police Command in collaboration with Drivers Vehicles License Authority and National Road Safety Commission has impounded 344 motorbikes and four engine powered tricycles in the Tamale Metropolis.
The motorbikes were impounded on Monday Oct 11, 2021, during an operation by personnel from the police and official of the DVLA and NRSC. The riders were arrested for various offences including riding without a helmet, unregistered motorbikes, among others.
Briefing the media after the exercise, the Northern Regional Police Commander, COP Timothy Yoosa Bonga, indicated that the operation was to clamp down on recalcitrant motorbike riders who ride with impunity without regards to road regulations.
He stated that out of 344 motorbikes arrested, 285 was unregistered while 59 among them rode without helmet.
The Regional Police Commander explained that the command, the DVLA and NRSC before the operation had engaged several stakeholders and opinion leaders within the Tamale metropolis, to sensitize riders on the need to have their motorbikes registered
COP Yoosa Bonga said the Northern Region and the Tamale metropolis in particular had continually recorded higher number of motor crashes leading to several loss of lives and property in the Metropolis. “We are doing this to save lives and properties,” he stated.
The police Commander revealed that, majority of criminals and armed robbers in the region now use unregistered motorbikes for their criminal activities hence the exercise; “that is the reason why we want all motor bikes registered to enable us curb crimes.”
“We are enforcing this law because it is the regulation is that, before you put your motor or your vehicle on the road it must be registered. If it is a motorbike, you need a helmet, so that in case of an accident at least you are in a way protected and so that is why we want every one wear helmet when riding” he advised.
COP Yoosa Bonga also warned that, the police Command will not bow to pressure from any source with regard to the exercise, but rather called for co-operation from stakeholders including the media to enable them bring back sanity on to the roads in Region. He said, and warned that the exercise had not ended. “
Story by: Yakubu Alhassan | www.diamondfmonline.com
